Dental brush



Jan. 21, 1930. 1 B DARGAVEL 1,744,365

DENTAL BRUSH Filed June 25, 1927 James Burgess Dorgcwe'l Patented Jan. 21, 1930 JAMES BURGESS DARGAVEL, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

DENTAL BRUSH Application filed .Tune 25, 1927. Serial No. 201,443.

My invention relates t brushes and particularly to brushes for use in conjunction with dental engines for cleaning drills, burrs, and similar instruments used in drilling and filling teeth.

The principal object of my invention re sides in providing a brush which may be quickly and conveniently removed from the dental engine and sterilized in boiling water,

1o or otherwise, so as to prevent the propagation or spreading of disease in the use of the same brush for cleaning the drills or burrs used on different patients.

An object of the invention resides in providing a mounting having a sleeve adapted to screw upon the threaded hub of one of the pulleys of the dental engine, said sleeve having a stud-like projection issuing outwardly therefrom for the reception of one of the brushes utilized in conjunction with my invention.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the brush used in my invention with an annulus of a suitable non corrosive heat resisting material adapted to be placed upon the stud-like portion of said mounting and to be driven thereby.

A feature of the invention resides in forming both said brush and mounting with teeth adapted to intermesh upon the insertion of the brush thereon by means of which the brush may be rotated in conjunction with said mounting.

Another object of the invention resides in r providing both the brush and studwlilre member with oppositely facing annular grooves along the contacting surfaces thereof and to dispose within said grooves an annularresilient retaining ring adapted to be compressed to allow the removal of said brush and to be expanded to lodge within said grooves and hold said brush in fixed relation upon said stud-like portion of said mounting.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the pulleys of a dental engine illustrating the application of my invention thereto and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting used in conjunction with the pulleys shown in Fig. l.

F ig. 3 is an elevational view of the obverse side of the brush used in conjunction with the mounting shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. l is an elevational view of the reverse side of the brush shown in Fig. 3 with portions thereof cut away to illustrate the construction of the same.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the mounting illustrated in Fig. 2 taken through the retaining ring groove thereof.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the application of the invention to another form of mounting.

In the usual practice of the profession of dentistry considerable lack of sanitation occurs in the cleaning of drills, burrs, and similar instruments utilized in the drilling and filling of the teeth and other work in conjunction with the same. Such lack of sanitation results in the use of the same cleaning brush for cleaning t-he said drills and other instruments when the same are used on different patients. After using these instruments in the mouths of various patients and upon cleaning the same on the usual brush, deposits accumulate on the brush which are frequently transferred to drills or burrs when used for other patients. The precaution for safety usually taken in the sterilizing of the drills and burrs is hence nulliiied by placing the same in contact with such brushes so that lack of sanitation exists with the result that 9 frequently the mouths of patients are contacted with germs of various diseases, such as pyorrhea, and other diseases as well as diseases affecting the body proper. My invention overcomes this disadvantage by providing a brush which may be rapidly and conveniently removed from its mounting upon the dental engine and which may be sterilized by steam or boiling water, or any of the other methods now in use for the purpose so that the same degree of sanitation and precaution for the protection of the patients treated may be had at all times.

For the purpose of illustrating the use of my invention I have shown in Fig. 1 one of the pulleys A of a dental engine on which my improved brush may be readily applied. This pulley may be one of those over which the engine belt passes, though it can be readily comprehended that the brush may be attached to any rotating element of the device or may be driven from an independent source of motive energy, if desired. Pulley A consists of two halves 10 and 11 assembled upon a hub 12 and held in place thereon by means of two threaded nuts 13 and 14. The nut 14 is externally threaded at 15 to receive the mounting on which the brush proper is supported. It will become evident, however, that the type of pulley illustrated represents but a single type of pulley as now used on dental engines and that the invention can be attached to any form of dental engine now in connnon use.

The mounting on which the brush is attached is indicated in its entirety at B and comprises a sleeve 16 which is internally threaded at 17 to screw upon the threaded portion 15 of nut 14. This sleeve screws up against the portion 11 0f pulley A so as to hecome firmly seated against the same and the threads 15 and 17 are cut in such a. direction that the rotation of pulley A causes mounting B to become more firmly screwed upon the nut 14 as the device rotates. Extending outwardly from the sleeve 16 is formed a studlike portion 18 which is of a smaller diameter than the sleeve 16 so as to provide a flange 19 connecting the same. This stud-like portion 18 may be constructed hollow as sho vn in Fig. 1 and closed by a suitable end wall 20, or the same may be constructed solid if desired.

The brush proper as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which is indicated in its entirety at C comprises an annulus 21 constructed of some suitable material, such as metal, ivory, porcelain, glass, 0r some similar substance. This annulus is arranged with a body portion 22 drilled with two rows of radial holes 24 and 25 disposed in staggered relation and arranged to receive bristles 26 forming the brushing element of the brush. The holes 24 and 25 extend to within a short distance of the inner periphery 27 of the annulus C and are connected by two annular grooves 28 and 29 which extend from said surface 27 inwardly into the body 22 and communicate with the said holes 24 and 25. In the construction of the brush, a wire indicated at 30 is successively looped up through each of the holes and the bristles placed within the loop. Upon drawing the wire taut the bristles are drawn into their respective holes and the wire caused to lie within the respective grooves 28 and 29.

In this manner the bristles are firmly held imbedded in the body portion 22 of the annulus 21 with the securing structure therefor issuing solely from the surface 27 of said annulus.

The brush C is adapted to be disposed upon the stud-like portion 18 of mounting B with the surface 21 thereof in contact with the outer periphery of said stud-like portion. lVhen so disposed the grooves 28 and 2t) with the wires 30 therein become concealed so that any drillings or other mattei' disposed upon the brush proper is prevented from entering or from leaving the said grooves and contacting with any of the instruments or the person of the patient treated. IVhen the brush is constructed of metal, molten metal may be flowed into the grooves 28 and 29 which on hardening serves to enclose the same.

The brush C is driven from the mounting B by means of a plurality of teeth 3l formed on one of the faces 32 of the body portion 22, which teeth are adapted to intermesh with similar teeth 33 formed on the flange 19 connecting the stud-like portion 18 and the sleeve 1G of mounting B. By employing a large number of such teeth, practically no rotational adjustment is required to bring the brush into engaging position with the mounting so that a simple and effective device is provided for coupling the two members to` gether. It is only necessary in applying the brush to the mounting to slip the same over the stud-like portion 18 and direct the same toward the teeth 33. Upon engaging said teeth a slight twist given to the brush will cause the respective teeth 31 of said brush to intermesh with the teeth 33 and bring the parts into the required engaging relation.

For holding the brush C in place upon the mounting B, the following construction is employed: In the stud-like portion 18 is cut an annular groove 34 which is adapted to receive a retaining ring This retaining ring is constructed 0f resilient material and is normally of a diameter greater than the exterior diameter of the stud-like portion 18. Groove 34 is of a width suicient to receive said retaining ring and is of a depth slightly greater than the diameter of said ring, so that the same may be compressed within said groovev and completely concealed within the same to enable the annulus 21 to be slipped over the end of said stud-like portion. The end of the annulus 21 is formed with a neck 36 which is constructed with a groove 37 similar to the groove 34, said groove being arranged in oppositely facing relation, said grooves being adapted to register with one another when the brush C is mounted with the teeth 31 thereof intermeshing with the teeth 33 of said mounting. then so disposed, the retaining ring is adapted to become lodged in the said groove 37 to occupy the posit-ion shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the groove 87 is semi-circular in cross section and that the depth of the same is equal to onehalf of the diameter of the said ring so that when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. l, the said ring is lodged partly in the groove 34 and partly in the groove 37, thereby holding the brush C in proper position upon the mounting B. For tacilitat'ng the application of brush C to the mounting B the inner corners 38 oit the teeth 3l are chumfered. When the brush C is centered relative to the stud-like portion 18 and directed towards the flange 19, the chamfered portions 3l engage the protruding portion ot the retaining ring 35 and causes the said .retaining` ring to recede within the groove 334i. This allows the body portion 22 of the annulus 2l Ato pass over the same and the teeth 3l of brush C to intermesh with the teeth 33 of mounting B. As soon as the brush becomes so positioned the groove 37 talle opposite the groove 3d, which allows the retaining ring to spring outwardly into said groove 37 holding the parts in locked position as previously stated.

To enable the rapid application or removal of the brush G without the grasping of the bristles thereon, I provide a 'flange 39 which issues outwardly from the neck 36. This flange is arranged so that the same may be readily grasped by the lingers or linger nails so as to allow the brush to be applied or withw drawn from the mounting by a single movement. It hence becomes evident that it is merely necessary to either press the brush in place upon. the mounting to attach the same thereto or it is merely necessary to pull upon the brush in a longitudinal direction to remove the same from the mounting.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the mounting B mounted upon a rotating element of the dental engine of a different type. In this case the mounting is attached to the shaft l0 of the engine which is accomplished by means of reducing the size of the sleeve 16 to directly lit upon the shaft 40 as indicated at 41. To hold the said device from rotating, a set screw l2 is employed which is screwed into a boss i3 :formed on the said sleeve lll. It will become evident, however, that a suitable type of fastening device, may be used for securing the mounting B to any rotat ing element of the dental engine and that if desired the said mounting and the pulley or other structure to which it is attached may be integrally cast or otherwise formed, as required.

Vith my improved invention, the brush may be readily placed in the sterilizer and sterilized after each patient in the same manner, and together with the other instruments of the dentist. In this manner a highly sanitary and desirable construction is provided whereby the spreading or propagation of disease can be completely prevented in the use of dental apparatus. The device can be constructed at a nominal cost and if desired a number ot brushes may be employed so that the dentist will have at all times a clean brush in readiness for each new patient treated.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope oit what is claimed without departing 'from the spirit ot my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with the threaded hub et a dental engine pulley, a brush mounting including a sleeve adapted to be screwed upon said hub, a stud-like member issuing outwardly from said sleeve7 said stud-like member being ot a diameter less than said sleeve to form a flange therebetween, an annular brush adapted to be mounted upon said stud-like member and to abut against said flange, means tor retaining said brush upon said stud-like member, and interlocking members formed on said flange and said brush 'or driving said brush through said mounting.

2. In combination with a rotatable member, a brush mounting secured thereto, said brush mounting including a hub, an annular brush adapted to be slid axially along said hub for application thereto or for removal thereitrom, means for releasing the hold of said brush upon said hub, a necli: issuing outwardly trom said brush and a flange ein tending radially trom said neck and in spaced relation to said brush proper, said flange being adapted to be grasped by the lingers tor facilitating the removal ot said brush from said hub.

3. In combination with a rotatable member, a brush mounting secured thereto and including a hub, an annular brush removably fitted axially upon said hub, and a lingerpiece on the brush to provide tor convenience and sanitation in the handling ot said brush, said linger-piece being annular in form and arranged concentrically with respect to the axis ot' said mounting.

ll. In combination with a rotatable member, a brush mounting secured thereto and including a hub, an annular brush removably fitted axially upon said hub, and a linger-piece protruding from one side of said brush to provide Jfor convenience and sanitation in the handling thereof.

5. In combination with a rotatable mem ber, a brush mounting lsecured thereto, said brush mounting including a hub, a flange entending outwardly from said hub, an annular brush adapted to be slid axially along said hub for application thereto or for removal therefrom, means tor releasingly holding said brush upon the hub, said brush having a. surface formed thereon facing a surface of said flange, and interlocking members formed on said surfaces for holding said brush from rotation.

6. In combination with a rotatable member, a brush mounting secured thereto, said brush mounting including a hub, an annular brush adapted to be slid axially along said hub for application thereto or for removal therefrom, means for releasingly holding said brush upon said hub and resisting the axial movement thereof, a finger piece formed on said brush7 said hub having a portion extending through said brush in proximity to said finger piece for cooperating with the finger in the removal of said brush from said mounting.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature to this specification.

JAMES BURGESS DARGA VEL. 

